Nicholas J. Manring, chief of consular services, American Consulate in Chennai has made an announcement to ensure the safety of children under the age of 14 traveling to the US is upheld.

Children under 14 years of age applying for a USA visa can now be exempt from an interview under the interview-waiver program. As the program title suggests these children will no longer need to go the American Embassy or consulate for an interview.

In order for these children to qualify for US visa application, they need to have a valid passport and a copy of the confirmation page of the electronically completed visa application form (DS-160). They will also need a 5×5 cm photo and a copy of prior passports (if applicable) that proves travels to the US.

A letter of “non-transmission of US citizenship” should also be provided if the parents of the children-applicants are citizens of the United States and are not able to transmit citizenship to their children. Otherwise, the parents can present a letter signed by them enumerating the dates that they have resided in the US. This should highlight the dates when they lived in the US after they turned 14 years old.

More about the US visa

If you are planning to enter the United States, keep in mind that you need to have a USA visa to be able to do so. To apply for this visa, you can utilize the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) visa or an ESTA to America. These are online applications aimed to screen travelers who wish to enter the US and developed by the American Government.